Although pronounced "leap," the procedure is actually LEEP, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure. When performing LEEP, the doctor will use a loop electrode to remove a portion of the cervix. During LEEP, a high-intensity electrical current is passed through the loop-electrode, allowing the doctor to shave off a thin slice of cervical tissue. This slice of tissue can be examined under a microscope to check for abnormal cells, if the purpose of LEEP was diagnosis. LEEP can also be used to remove any tissue that may be found to be cancerous or pre-cancerous once it is found. A local anesthetic is administered to the patient before the procedure, and sometimes pain medication is prescribed to ease postoperative discomfort.
This "growth" that the doctor is removing is a vague term. Most "growths" removed by this procedure will be determined to be what is called "cervical dysplasia." Cervical dysplasia is a term used to describe abnormal cells that are at high risk of becoming cancerous, but are not cancer yet. Whatever the results of microscopic evaluation, the problem is often cured by the L.E.E.P. Therefore, L.E.E.P. is both a biopsy and a removal of the abnormal tissue (a cure if you will) all at once. Avoid tampons and sex for four weeks after procedure.
One of the side effects of LEEP procedure is inability for the cervix to dilate during labor for childbirth, greatly increasing a woman's chance of c-section. There are alternative medicines available for cervical dysplasia.